“Glee” Season 1, Episode 8: TV Recap

And so begins a turning point for Glee. There has been some criticism that many of the characters in the show are just one note. Last night, however, viewers got to see some Janus-like revelations from Will, Emma, Sue and Puck.

We discover the playful side of Will, whose love of teaching music (and breaking out some nifty dance moves) is infectious. To get his students excited about finding songs that mash-up, he first gets his groove on as a breakdancing b-boy, toprocking and downrocking his way through an energetic performance of Young MC’s “Bust a Move.” He tops it with a pike freeze and ends with a half-split suicide. Whoa, Willy.

Next, he teaches Emma some dance lessons by that one-hit-wonder Sisqo, the man behind “The Thong Song.” Performing like a Thundah-from-Down-Undah male stripper in the middle of a bachelorette party, Will gets his foreplay on with his engaged colleague. He gives her the Will Schue special — some slick and racy moves that reminds us a bit of a fuse between Jordan Knight and Ricky Martin. Coach Ken Tanaka, the fiance and consolation prize, watches with jealousy.

His final dance for the evening is with Emma at the bridal store, where in the fitting room Will glides her through a gorgeous waltz while being seduced by the eyes and honeyed voice of his school crush. In a Hepburnesque wedding gown, Emma wins us over with a lovely cover of My Fair Lady’s “I Could Have Danced All Night.” More importantly, she dances and she sings!

The Russian Doll of an episode also made us notice that Coach Sue Sylvester is a person. With feelings. She dates (guys). She falls in love (after one Battleship date). She gets betrayed by a sleazy news anchor with bad teeth. How cheesy is this: “I can’t be caged in, Sue. That’s why I got my tiger tattoo.” Don’t worry, Coach. You get our tip of the hat because of (a) we see you wearing something other than a track suit and (b) you dance like a maniac with your wild-and-crazy routine with Will of Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ “Swing Swing Swing.” Your Cheerios couldn’t be prouder. Except for Quinn, whom you unceremoniously cut off the team because she’s knocked up.

We also see Puck emerging from his bonehead-punk exterior, displaying the magical ability to both seduce the hottest girls in McKinley High and Lima’s cougars. He wows us with his sensitive, cool guy turn as a solo singer to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” Courteney Cox, eat your heart out. While Finn’s voice is light and a bit scratchy, Puck’s is earthly, sensual and full.

Best line of the night goes to Kurt, after he spills grape slushie all over himself and hIs cute Dolce and Gabbana see-through raincoat: “Someone get me to the day spa stat!” Cut to the next shot: his female posse rushes him to the girls’ bathroom. LOL.